NOTES: Sorry if there were a million errors. I wrote and submitted it during class. I didn't have time to read over it.
Chapter Nineteen
Stealing to Bargain
Part One
In the shadows of night, the four crept along the perimeter of the Jenkins Military Base. Logan glanced behind him, regretting not forcing the others out of the car. Kurt he wasn't too concerned about, but Bobby and Kitty were only kids in his eyes: twenty-one and nineteen were too young to place in mortal danger. Yet, there was no turning back. They had less than fifteen minutes to sneak into an office and copy the files onto a disc. Logan could feel each precious second slip by.
"Logan," Kitty whispered, glancing nervously around. She wasn't an X-men, yet. She had never purposely walked into a perilous situation, but she wasn't willing to cave into self-doubt. She could do this. "I can get in. All I need is cover."
Bobby winced. If anything happened to her who knew what Xavier would do. "Kitty, we'd agreed that Kurt would go in. He can transport in and out."
Kurt bowed his head shamefully. "I don't know how ta work ta computer."
Logan growled. As much as he despised it, he knew what had to be done. "Kitty's right. She's the only one who can get in and download the file quickly. Kurt, transport us closer to the building." Logan peered around them, an air vent on the roof catching his attention. "Take us up there."
One by one, Kurt transported the team onto the roof.
"I don't suppose Gambit told you where the offices were," Logan said. "Or the pass codes."
"Any office will do," Bobby breathed, aware of the guards that paroled the lawns below them. "All we need is a computer that's hooked up to the system. The password is M-U-T-E-X-P."
Logan's face scrunched up in a mixture of bafflement and wonder. How did Gambit know these things? "Alright, Kurt, you and I will go in first. If it's clear, come back and get them."
Logan pulled the cover of the air vent off and climbed inside. It was a tight squeeze and he had to shimmy his muscular body through. Kurt crawled in behind him, his blue tail smacking into the sides. "Quiet," Logan hissed.
"Ich bin erbärmlich," Kurt mumbled apologetically.
Logan rolled his eyes. Kurt the German speaker and Remy the French speaker: what was next?
Logan dropped from the vent to the floor, crouching for a split moment, listening intently to the sounds of the building. Kurt followed suit, watching Logan for any sign of trouble. The two scouted the corridors hastily, not wanting to waste time. Finally, Logan nodded to Kurt. "Go get them."
Kurt vanished, a blue mist bursting in the air as he transported.
Logan stalked the hallways further. Up ahead he heard the muffled sound of approaching conversation. He ducked around a corner and pressed himself to the wall. In seconds he could make out the voices.
"I don't think this is a good idea," a desperate male tried to convince his companion.
"I think it is," a woman snapped. "We need to eliminate all the evidence. There are too many people sniffing around. General Hemlick himself was here today interrogating me."
The voices grew more faint as they slipped into an elevator. Logan waited a beat then, rushed forward and whipped out his claws. He pried the elevator shaft doors open and leapt onto the cables. He climbed down the wires until his feet touched the top of the elevator. He pressed his ear to the vent.
"…the only way."
"No," the woman spoke sharply. "The mutant must be killed. That is the only way."
"You'll be starting a war, Ashley."
"We're already at war."
There was a pause before the man retorted, "But now it's bigger. We've not only the mutants to deal with, but now the American government. If they ever find out what we've done, it'll be a disaster."
"Which is exactly why we must destroy the files."
"And kill the mutant?"
"Yes!"
The lift came to a stop. Logan remained where he was until he was sure they had exited then, he opened the emergency escape hatch and slid into the elevator. Scanning the buttons, he pressed the basement level.
Logan stepped off at the basement level, shocked by the lack of security. Was it possible that these people were trying to hide things subtly? Minor security would draw attention away, causing others to believe that this was an unimportant building. Maybe it was. Maybe Gambit had misled them: whether it was deliberately or incidentally.
Logan ambled down a dimly lit corridor. He found himself at a dead end. What the hell? Buildings weren't built to have dead ends. He pounded his palms against the wall. It sounded hollow. He scanned the edges and a tingle ran up his spine. There were creases, tiny slivers of open space. Something was behind the wall.
Now how to open the wall?
Logan smoothed his hands along every inch to no prevail. Frustrated, he shot his claws out and rammed them into the barrier. A few more strikes and he was able to push him self through a rigid hole. Instantly his breath caught in his throat.
He stood gaping at a vast operation room with frightening equipment he knew wasn't used to saving lives – but altering them. It was an experimentation room. The test subjects? Mutants.
He slowly walked further into the torture chamber, glaring at the machines. What were they trying to do here? Make mutants more powerful? Manipulate life for their own twisted uses? But more importantly: why?
He came to a large glass tube filled with a blue haze. Curious, he stepped closer and –
"Rogue!"
She was sprawled on the floor dressed in only her under garments. She lay motionless: as lifeless as a barren winter. Desperate, Logan crashed through the glass with his claws, crying out from rage. How dare they do this to her!
He leapt up onto the platform and collapsed onto his knees. Gently, he rolled her onto her back and peered down into her graceful face. She looked like a snow angel: beautiful and peaceful, yet as pale as death. "Marie," he whispered hoarsely, tenderly caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. Gingerly, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her body against him. "Marie," her name released in a breath.
He carefully stood up.
"Not so fast," a sharp voice ordered. "She's not going anywhere, Wolverine."
Logan whirled around, Rogue secure in his arms, to be faced with a dozen men (and more still seeping in through the hole he had created). "The hell she isn't," he spat. He delicately placed her on an operating table and then faced his opponents.
To my death, Marie, he thought as he charged forward.
End Chapter Nineteen
Wapps: Sorry I missed you the last time! And thanks for the vote of confidence!
Snoob: A beta reader is someone who reads the chapter before posting and corrects grammar mistakes. He/she also gives feedback to help improve the story. A beta reader is like an editor.
Cassandra: Some things will be revealed and others may not.
Vegata: Yeah, sometimes FF.net is a little slow getting the chapters up. So, it says it's there because I did upload it it's just that you can't get to it yet. Anyway, thank you for the second review. I wish I could post more/longer ones. If only I had the time! /frowns/
Little Proph: Why do you have three aliases? And I'm sorry about your toe. Are you ok?
Madem Morte: May I hide with you because I love his animalistic attributes to. Personally, I find it sexy. I get excited when someone's protectiveness goes crazy (out of love, of course.)
Galxychld: Well, we got to Rogue. Was it like you expected?
Loganlover: Wow. Thank you so much!
Bulma Briefs: One of the best? That's quite an honor! Thank you!
Jo: Yeah, and Kitty realized it, too!